Rep. Ben Cline

Maddy summaryThe In God We Trust Act requires the Administrator of General Services to display the national motto "In God We Trust" on every public building within the United States. This mandate applies to all federal buildings and must be completed no later than one year after the law is enacted. The bill specifies that the motto must be inscribed or displayed in a prominent location on each structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Department of Defense to review and eventually ban contracts with retailers that use payment processing systems from specific countries deemed a national security risk, such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Effective January 1, 2027, the Defense Department will be prohibited from entering into agreements for payment equipment or services if those tools rely on technology developed, owned, or controlled by entities in these nations. The law defines covered systems broadly to include hardware, software, and firmware linked to these countries, aiming to prevent potential foreign access to sensitive military financial data. Retailers wishing to continue working with the Department of Defense must replace their payment processing infrastructure with systems that do not involve these restricted technologies.

Maddy summaryHRES 64 is a non-binding House resolution affirming the U.S.-South Korea alliance. It highlights historical ties (dating to 1882), economic partnerships (including 2023 trade data), and security cooperation (like the 1953 Mutual Defense Treaty), while celebrating Korean American contributions to U.S. society. The resolution formally supports strengthening security, economic, and cultural ties between the two nations and notes the 2025 anniversary of Korean liberation. It does not create new laws or funding, but serves as a symbolic statement of congressional support for the alliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend federal law to strengthen penalties for organized retail crime by expanding definitions of theft to include digital goods, gift cards, and setting a $5,000 aggregate value threshold for charges over a 12-month period. It would establish a new "Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center" under Homeland Security to coordinate Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement efforts against cross-jurisdictional theft groups. The Center would share information with retailers, transportation companies, and law enforcement agencies, track crime trends, and produce annual reports on organized retail crime. This legislation directly affects retailers, supply chain businesses, and law enforcement agencies, while targeting organized crime groups responsible for a 93% increase in larceny incidents and rising safety concerns for retail employees. The bill aims to address significant financial losses and supply chain disruptions noted in the National Retail Federation's 2023 data.

Maddy summaryHR 2267, the NICS Data Reporting Act of 2025, requires the Attorney General to annually report demographic data from firearm background checks conducted through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The report must include details like race, ethnicity, age, disability, income, and language proficiency - where available - on individuals found ineligible to purchase firearms. This affects the Department of Justice, which must submit these reports to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees within one year of the law's enactment and annually thereafter. The bill focuses solely on collecting and reporting existing background check data, without changing firearm eligibility rules or creating new requirements for gun buyers.

Maddy summaryLogan's Law directs the Attorney General to create a free, public database listing individuals with qualifying violent convictions, requiring states that receive federal crime grants to submit their records. The database will allow searches by various personal details and conviction specifics, such as the judge and prosecutor involved, and must be updated at least every three months. Additionally, the bill requires the Attorney General to report on current barriers to sharing criminal records between states and the federal government and to propose solutions for improving this data exchange. States that fail to submit the required data could face penalties, including the withholding of federal Byrne JAG grant funds or the direct distribution of those funds to local governments within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill fundamentally restructures the U.S. immigration system by replacing the current employment-based visa categories with a new points-based program that prioritizes applicants with high salaries, advanced degrees, English proficiency, and U.S. military service. Under this new system, employers must attest that they have attempted to hire qualified American workers first and guarantee that hiring an immigrant will not result in layoffs of existing U.S. employees. Additionally, the bill eliminates the Diversity Lottery program, restricts certain family sponsorship categories for citizens, and imposes conditional permanent resident status on new immigrants who must prove they are not receiving public benefits and remain employed within two years. The legislation also mandates that undocumented students pay out-of-state tuition rates at colleges and requires immigrants to sign statements affirming their loyalty to U.S. constitutional principles and opposition to specific forms of persecution.

Maddy summaryThe Cost Estimate Clarity Act requires the Congressional Budget Office to explain how its cost estimates are influenced by specific baseline assumptions. Under this bill, the CBO must provide a quantitative comparison showing the difference between its current estimates and what costs would be if those assumptions were not used. The report must also identify which specific baseline assumptions caused these differences and clarify when the baseline might underestimate actual federal spending. This change directly affects how budgetary data is presented to Congress, aiming to improve transparency in fiscal analysis.

Maddy summaryThe No Bias in the Baseline Act modifies how the federal government calculates its budget baseline, which serves as the starting point for determining future spending and tax levels. This change requires the baseline to be based strictly on current laws without adjusting for inflation or other economic factors, while also excluding emergency funding and supplemental appropriations from the calculation. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Congressional Budget Office include alternative fiscal scenarios in its budget reports to provide a broader view of potential financial outcomes. These provisions directly affect the Office of Management and Budget and the Congressional Budget Office by altering the mathematical rules used to project the nation's fiscal health.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses support for designating April as Undiagnosed Awareness Month to highlight the challenges faced by the approximately 25 million Americans living with rare diseases that have not yet been identified. The bill aims to raise public awareness about the difficulties these patients endure, such as long diagnostic delays, misdiagnoses, and lack of treatment options, while honoring the work of the Undiagnosed Diseases Network and related research efforts. By acknowledging this month, the House intends to promote greater understanding of the need for improved diagnostic tools and equitable access to medical care for individuals with undiagnosed conditions.